Utility vehicle having hydrostatic drive

Abstract

A utility vehicle is disclosed within. The utility vehicle includes a front axle, a pair of rear axle shafts, a seat with a minimum capacity of two occupants secured to the vehicle, an engine, having an engine output shaft, mounted between the front axle and the rear axle shafts and a least partially below the seat and a load bed. The utility vehicle also includes a hydraulic pump, driven by a pump input shaft, and a hydraulic motor, which drives a plurality of gears through a motor output shaft. The engine output shaft, the pump input shaft and the motor output shaft are generally parallel to the front axle and the rear axle shafts.

1. A vehicle comprising:
 a front axle; 
 a pair of rear axle shafts; 
 a seat with a minimum capacity of two occupants secured to the vehicle and positioned between the front axle and the rear axle shafts; 
 an engine having an engine output shaft and mounted between the front axle and the rear axle shafts and at least partially below the seat; 
 a load bed extending from the seat toward the rear of the vehicle; 
 a hydraulic pump driven by a pump input shaft driven by the engine; and 
 a hydraulic motor driving a motor output shaft, the hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic pump, wherein the engine output shaft, the pump input shaft and the motor output shaft are generally parallel to the front axle and the rear axle shafts; 
 a mechanical gear box comprising a gear box input shaft drivingly connected to the motor output shaft; and 
 a plurality of gears disposed in the mechanical gear box, wherein the plurality of gears is driven by the gear box input shaft and drives the rear axle shafts through a differential. 
 
   
   
     2. The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the differential is positioned within the mechanical gear box. 
   
   
     3. The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising an oil reservoir connected to at least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. 
   
   
     4. The vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising an oil cooler connected to at least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. 
   
   
     5. A utility vehicle comprising:
 a front axle; 
 a pair of rear axle shafts; 
 a gear box comprising a gear box input shaft drivingly engaged to at least one gear, the at least one gear driving a differential, which is drivingly engaged to the rear axle shafts; 
 a hydraulic pump mounted on the vehicle and driven by a pump input shaft; 
 a hydraulic motor driving a motor output shaft, the hydraulic motor connected to the hydraulic pump by hydraulic lines and drivingly connected to the gear box by a belt; 
 a seat for at least two occupants positioned between the front axle and the rear axle shafts; 
 a prime mover comprising a prime mover output shaft that is parallel to the front axle and the rear axle shafts and is coupled to the pump input shaft by a belt, the prime mover located between the front axle and the rear axle shafts and at least partially positioned below the seat; and 
 a load bed positioned over the rear axle shafts. 
 
   
   
     6. The utility vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the gear box further comprises the differential. 
   
   
     7. The utility vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the pump input shaft and the motor output shaft are parallel to the front axle and rear axle shafts. 
   
   
     8. The utility vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the gear box housing has a split line generally perpendicular to the front axle and rear axle shafts.